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By following this guide, you will monitor your Part 5 compliance status, upload evidence, identify and close compliance gaps, and prepare for your Declaration of Compliance.
Who should read this: Safety managers and admins responsible for SMS implementation and compliance evidence. The accountable executive should review the compliance dashboard regularly.Prerequisites: Safety manager or admin role. Familiarity with the four pillars of SMS — Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion.

Compliance Dashboard Overview

Navigate to Compliance in the Safety sidebar. The dashboard provides a high-level view of your organization’s Part 5 readiness:
MetricDescription
Overall compliancePercentage across all Part 5 subparts.
Per-subpart statusCompliance for Subparts A through F individually.
Evidence coverageNumber of elements with evidence vs. gaps.
Trend indicatorsDirectional progress over time.

Review Compliance Elements

Navigate to Compliance > Elements to see every Part 5 requirement. Each element shows the regulatory reference, plain-language description, current status, and evidence. Use the subpart filter to focus on a specific pillar (A through F).

Identify Compliance Gaps

Navigate to Compliance > Gaps to see elements that are not yet fully compliant. The view shows elements with no evidence, partial compliance, and those requiring additional documentation.
Focus on Subpart B (Safety Policy) and Subpart C (Safety Risk Management) first. These are foundational — other subparts depend on them being in place.

Upload Compliance Evidence

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Step 1: Open the element
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Open any compliance element to view its detail page.
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Step 2: Upload evidence
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Select the file(s) that demonstrate compliance with this requirement.
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Step 3: Add a description
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Explain how the evidence satisfies the requirement. Be specific — auditors read these descriptions.
Do not upload documents containing passwords, API keys, or other credentials. Evidence files are stored in encrypted cloud storage.

Update Element Status

After uploading evidence, update the element’s compliance status:
StatusWhen to Use
Not StartedNo work has been done on this element yet.
Partially ImplementedSome aspects are addressed but gaps remain.
Fully ImplementedAll requirements for this element are met with sufficient evidence.
VerifiedImplementation has been independently verified as effective.

Generate the Part 5 Compliance Report

  1. Navigate to Compliance > Part 5 Report. This generates a comprehensive report summarizing your compliance posture.
  2. Report contents:
    • Overall and per-subpart compliance percentages
    • Every element with its current status
    • References to attached evidence
    • Remaining gaps with recommendations
  3. Use cases: Present at management review meetings, share with your FSDO during surveillance, or include as supporting material with your Declaration of Compliance.

Export Compliance Evidence

Navigate to Compliance > Evidence Export to create a downloadable package of all uploaded evidence. This is useful for:
  • FAA audit preparation
  • Internal audit documentation
  • Management review presentations
  • Backup and archival

Implementation Element Plan (IEP)

The IEP tab under Compliance provides a structured timeline for your compliance journey:
  • Track milestones toward the May 28, 2027 DOC deadline
  • Assign responsibility for each compliance area to specific people
  • Monitor progress against your implementation schedule
  • Identify at-risk milestones before they become overdue

Generate Template Documents

The Doc Generate tool under Compliance creates starter templates for common SMS documents:
  • Safety Policy Statement
  • SMS Manual sections
  • Emergency Response Plan templates
  • Training program outlines
Generated documents are templates that must be customized to your organization’s specific operations. Do not submit generic templates as compliance evidence — the FAA expects documentation that reflects your actual processes.

Maintain Ongoing Compliance

After submitting your Declaration of Compliance, you must maintain your SMS for as long as you hold your certificate. Use the compliance dashboard to:
  • Monitor for degradation in compliance status
  • Track evidence expiration (e.g., annual training records that need renewal)
  • Prepare for routine FAA surveillance activities
  • Document changes through the Management of Change process

Conduct a Risk Assessment

Part 5 Subpart C compliance through documented risk management.

Create a CPA

Part 5 Subpart D continuous improvement through corrective actions.

Run a Safety Committee Meeting

Meeting records as evidence for Safety Promotion requirements.

Manage Documents

Document management for Part 5 Subpart F compliance.
Last modified on April 11, 2026